Quo Vadis 1951

type: Movie

language: English

duration: 171 min

genre: historical

theme: epic

director: Mervyn LeRoy

Score: 6 / 10

Quo Vadis (Latin for "Where are you going?") is a 1951 American religious epic historical film set in ancient Rome during the final years of Emperor Nero's reign, based on the 1896 novel of the same title by Polish Nobel Laureate author Henryk Sienkiewicz. Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and filmed in Technicolor, it was directed by Mervyn LeRoy from a screenplay by S. N. Behrman, Sonya Levien, and John Lee Mahin. It is the fourth screen adaptation of Sienkiewicz's novel. The film stars Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn, and Peter Ustinov, and features Patricia Laffan, Finlay Currie, Abraham Sofaer, Marina Berti, Buddy Baer, and Felix Aylmer. Future Italian stars Sophia Loren and Bud Spencer appeared as uncredited extras. The score is by Miklós Rózsa and the cinematography by Robert Surtees and William V. Skall. The film was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on November 2, 1951.

Plot

Marcus Vinicius is a Roman military commander and the legate of the XIV Gemina. Returning from wars in Britain and Gaul, he stays in the house of Aulus Plautius, a retired Roman general, and becomes smitten with Lygia, a Lygian hostage of Rome in the old general's care. Unbeknownst to Marcus, Lygia, Aulus, and his household are devout Christians, who host Paul the Apostle that very night. Petronius, Marcus' uncle, persuades Nero to give the girl to his nephew as a reward for his services. Lygia resents this arrangement, but eventually falls in love with Marcus.

Awards

National Board of Review: Top Ten Films

Cast

More details

author	Henryk Sienkiewicz John Lee Mahin S. N. Behrman Sonya Levien
award	National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
contentLocation	Rome
director	Mervyn LeRoy
editor	Ralph E. Winters
genre	historical
keywords	acte add their endorsement arrest as new emperor of rome assisted suicide aulus plautius burn burns rome christian claudia acte crook cross of saint peter crozier crucified upside-down crucify end his own life force galba gospel of john great fire of rome great war helps him to push the dagger into his chest john kill legate legatus legio xiv gemina lucan lygian lygians march murder new life new testament paul the apostle peter petronius phaon pollice verso poppaea praetorian guard retire saint peter scapegoat seneca seneca the younger suicide war hero xiv gemina year of the four emperors
musicBy	Miklós Rózsa
nomination	Academy Award for Best Art Direction, Color Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Color Academy Award for Best Film Editing Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score Academy Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
producer	Sam Zimbalist
productionCompany	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
publisher	Loews Cineplex Entertainment
theme	epic